Christine St-Pierre, Minister of Culture,
Communications and Status of Women
May 9, 2011 – The EquiLibre Weight Action Group has just launched the first edition of the IMAGE / IN award. This contest is aimed at young Quebecers aged 13 to 17, invited to vote to reward initiatives from the world of fashion, advertising and the media that promote an image of beauty more diversified than that usually conveyed.
The beauty models projected in the media and advertising are unrealistic and unattainable for the majority of people, says Fanny Dagenais, president of EquiLibre. “They correspond, in fact, to less than 5% of the population. “
“Young people, like the general population, are overly concerned about weight. It is estimated that around 60% of them are dissatisfied with their body image. As a result, they adopt behaviors that are harmful to their health. For example, they skip a meal to try to lose weight or take supplements to increase muscle size. This competition aims to encourage them to react to the beauty models that the industry puts forward and to aim for well-being and health for themselves, ”she continues.
The finalists
The competition was launched on International No-Diet Day on May 6, as part of the campaign for young people “Your influence has weight”. This year, 5 finalists were selected by 2 juries: one made up of young people, whose spokesperson is actress Frédérique Dufort (Tactik), and the other made up of people from the image industry. The finalists selected are:
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International No Diet Day was created in 1992 by Mary Evans Young, a Briton who denounced, among other things, the ineffectiveness of weight loss diets and the obsession with thinness. This event is now celebrated on May 6 each year in several countries, including England, France, the United States, South Africa, Russia, Australia and Canada. In Quebec, the ÉquiLibre organization has been promoting it since 2007. |
- Les boutiques Jacob (no photo retouching policy);
- Fashionable feeling (parade of body diversity);
- Aubainerie Concept (Véro 2011 clothing collection);
- Châtelaine (series of articles published in January 2010 which deal with the pressure exerted on models);
- Wink (Stars and silhouettes, article published in February 2011).
Young people have until 1er June to vote online at www.derrierelemiroir.ca. The winner as well as the 2 favorites of the juries will be revealed on June 10.
“We would like young people to realize that they have the power to change these models; they are the ones who can change these social norms, ”adds Fannie Dagenais.
Claudia Morissette – HealthPassport.net
